Mayor Ed Lee taps Christine Falvey to handle press corps

San Francisco’s new mayor has picked a new public face for his administration.

Mayor Ed Lee has tapped Department of Public Works spokeswoman Christine Falvey to direct his public communications team, The Chronicle has learned. Falvey replaces Tony Winnicker, who served as mayoral spokesman for roughly the last year of former Mayor Gavin Newsom’s seven years in office.

Falvey has been the Department of Public Works’ communications director since 2003, a post Lee appointed her to when he was the director of public works.

“Christine Falvey will bring years of experience in city government and a deep understanding of the vital services we deliver to her new position in the mayor’s office,” Lee said. “She has earned the respect of her colleagues, neighborhood leaders and members of the media alike, and I’m very pleased she has agreed to join my team.”

The move to the mayor’s office will mean a pay cut for Falvey, whose salary will go from $150,000 a year to $138,000.

“I love working for the city,” Falvey said, “and I didn’t hesitate when the mayor asked.”

Winnicker, who has been serving as Lee’s spokesman since Newsom was sworn in as lieutenant governor on Jan. 10, will assist in the transition.

“It’s been an incredible year,” Winnicker said, “sometimes exhilarating, sometimes tumultuous, and at times even historic. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of it under mayors Newsom and Lee.”

Friday will be Falvey’s first day fully dealing with the City Hall press corps.

She has nearly 20 years of experience in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. Falvey served as a public relations officer at the Department of Public Works from 1998 until 2003, when she was appointed communications director. Prior to that she worked at Career Resources Development Center, a non-profit providing job training and placement for immigrants and refugees, and at Graham and James, an international law firm.